Ashland Headed to 2017 NCAA Midwest Regional Title Game

BAY CITY, Mich. -- The top two seeds at the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships Midwest Regional advanced in Saturday's semifinal contests and will meet on Monday (March 13) for a trip to the Elite Eight. Top-seeded Ashland earned a 77-62 victory over No. 5 Grand Valley State with No. 2 Drury out of the GLVC prevailed over No. 3 Saginaw Valley State. The regional title game will take place on Monday in Ashland.

RECAP: Drury turned Saginaw Valley over 27 times en route to 21 points off turnovers as the Panthers eliminated the Cardinals from the NCAA Tournament. SVSU got behind early in the first quarter facing a 20-8 deficit late in the first frame and would never be able to overcame the sluggish start. The Cardinals made a late charge but Drury pulled away and advanced to the region finals. SVSU senior All-American Emily Wendling led the Cardinals with 14 points in the final game of her career.

RECAP: Ashland outscored Grand Valley State by a 15-5 margin throughout the final four minutes of action to pull away and advance to the regional championship game against Drury on Monday. Ashland led 27-18 after one quarter of play before the GVSU defense held the Eagles to just seven points in the second frame to bring the Laker within one. GVSU made a surge in the fourth quarter before AU went on the run to put the game out of reach. Ashland forced GVSU into 24 turnovers, while the Eagles committed just 12 of their own. Four of the Eagles' five started reached double figures, highlighted by Andi Daugherty's 21 points and ten rebounds with Laina Snyder adding 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Grand Valley State senior Janae Langs paced the Lakers with 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in her final collegiate basketball game.